Game Thread 2026 NBA PLAYOFFS RND 1 - GAME #1 - BLAZERS @ SPURS - APRIL 19, 2026 - SUNDAY - 6:00 PM - NBC - PEACOCK (2 Viewers)

[Everything Beagle]

They beat the spread by a point

I mean this as a positive too. We are the team we thought we were. Our next goal should be to beat the spread by half, then get a win in Game 3.

 

[wizenheimer]

At least Deni and Scoot showed up. Even if Scoot did have a few ugly turnovers.

he shot well but his floor game was terrible and he committed at least 3 dumb shooting fouls; Sharpe with his normal chucking game. Clingan was kind of lost but I don't think Splitter knows how to use him. Camara didn't do much; Grant was a bonehead

Deni was in the same boat Dame spent years of the playoffs in: none of his teammates was good enough to lend substantial support

 

[MrDraftGuy]

Hopefully, the young players shake off the jitters now that they've experienced the playoff atmosphere.

With the level of effort they showed and if they hit 3s at their usual 34%, Portland could've potentially won or been neck and neck until the buzzer sounded.

As such, I think that this is a 6 game series rather than the gentleman's sweep many predicted.

 

[Everything Beagle]

he shot well but his floor game was terrible and he committed at least 3 dumb shooting fouls; Sharpe with his normal chucking game. Clingan was kind of lost but I don't think Splitter knows how to use him. Camara didn't do much; Grant was a bonehead

Deni was in the same boat Dame spent years of the playoffs in: none of his teammates was good enough to lend substantial support

I think Tiago only knows how to be Tiago with a center. If we get a new coach we should probably get someone who knows how to build a winner out of this lineup (after adjustments)

 

[Phatguysrule]

They need another star

At least one.

 

[Phatguysrule]

I think Tiago only knows how to be Tiago with a center. If we get a new coach we should probably get someone who inows how to build a winner out of this lineup (after adjustments)

Probably. What's the going rate for a better than average coach? $8-10 million?

 

[BBert]

Be nice if he did that for us

Instead he apparently contacted the biggest cheapskate billionaire in the country to buy the Blazers.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Instead he apparently contacted the biggest cheapskate billionaire in the country to buy the Blazers.

Yeah, a guy that was worth $2 billion, all in. While Phil Knight already had an offer for $2 billion publicly on the table.

Phil Knight could have easily built a more qualified and competitive ownership group than Dundon.

 

[wizenheimer]

Hopefully, the young players shake off the jitters now that they've experienced the playoff atmosphere.

With the level of effort they showed and if they hit 3s at their usual 34%, Portland could've potentially won or been neck and neck until the buzzer sounded.

As such, I think that this is a 6 game series rather than the gentleman's sweep many predicted.

most of the time in the playoffs, each game develops it's own identity. Portland might shoot better in the next game but also might commit 19 turnovers instead of 10. Scoot could go 2-11 instead of 7-11. Portland is the team that needs to make major adjustments and if they believe all they need to do is shoot better from 3, the whack-a-mole problem will bite them in the ass, again

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

TV market aside, it is the 7th largest city in the country

They must be powerhouses in money making for the NBA then!

 

[MickZagger]

I thought we defended their guards pretty good. There wasn’t a whole lot of easy shots for them outside the stretch when they went on a run in the 3rd.

The difference is Wemby. The only equalizer is Giannis.

 

[wizenheimer]

I thought we defended their guards pretty good. There wasn’t a whole lot of easy shots for them outside the stretch when they went on a run in the 3rd.

The difference is Wemby. The only equalizer is Giannis.

during the season, Fox-Vassell-Castle combined for 49 points and 16 assists; tonight they combined for 49 points and 17 assists. Blazers didn't really limit the Spurs starting guards

Deni had 30-10-5; Wemby had 35-5-1. That's kind of a draw. The difference was the Spurs supporting cast was just better...and better coached

 

[Phatguysrule]

I thought we defended their guards pretty good. There wasn’t a whole lot of easy shots for them outside the stretch when they went on a run in the 3rd.

The difference is Wemby. The only equalizer is Giannis.

I think OKC is going to have some answers for Wemby.

 

[wizenheimer]

I think OKC is going to have some answers for Wemby.

probably, the Spurs will have to get by Denver first. That won't be easy for them. Wemby won't dominate Jokic

 

[BBert]

probably, the Spurs will have to get by Denver first. That won't be easy for them. Wemby won't dominate Jokic

Oh, crap. I'm going to have to pull for the Nugs. That's going to leave a bad taste.

 

[AldoTrapani]

 

[AldoTrapani]

 

[SwissBlazer]

This stretch at 61-59 where we could have taken the lead was crucial. We missed a few and made bad turnovers. They went on a run just after that and the game was over. Opportunity was here. I like the resilience they showed in this game.

 

[julius]

TV market aside, it is the 7th largest city in the country

Well. San Antonio is 500 square miles big, so it's not hard to have a large population.

Their population density is less than Portlands. If Portland was as big as San Antonio, they'd be 2.2 million, and if San Antonio was as small as Portland, they'd be about 415k.

I think that's why it's sometimes called "small market" despite the population.

 

[julius]

This stretch at 61-59 where we could have taken the lead was crucial. We missed a few and made bad turnovers. They went on a run just after that and the game was over. Opportunity was here. I like the resilience they showed in this game.

That was a very bad stretch, and while it wasn't fully all Scoots play, his turnovers were loud...but the way they played definitely wasn't an unusual thing to happen to the team.

Competent shooting and this offense would make for exciting games. Throw is a healthy Damian Lillard and I think they are much better than their record.

 

[kjironman1]

we 10-34 from 3

says a lot around not having a plan b

This also says they had exactly the right game plan. They hit 3-4 more of those and this game is completely different. They spread the floor better and Deni has better looks at the basket. The offensive flow becomes more manageable and the Spurs offense has less momentum because the Blazers get back on defense and set up better.
There is absolutely no question in my mind the Blazers were beat by a better team that shot the ball better.

Defense wins championships but this game has and always will be about making buckets. Those wide open looks from three need to fall.
The Blazers shot 26% from three 10-38
The Spurs shot 45% from three 15-33

The Blazers shot 43% from the field 39-91
The Spurs shot 48% from the field 48-84

Every other statistical category was fairly even. Maybe you could say rebounding was in their favor but only marginally.

Bottom line the Spurs played a better game on their home court. Blazers played a decent game and should not change much at all.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

We don't have the talent to compete with the Spurs in a 7 game series.

Will our young guys grow enough to get there? Maybe, but I doubt it.

We need more talent this offseason.

 

[riverman]

Now you find out what our coaching staff will do to adjust after the loss. Playoffs baby!!!!!

 

[kjironman1]

Now you find out what our coaching staff will do to adjust after the loss. Playoffs baby!!!!!

I personally don't think there is much to adjust other than Make Some Shots.

 

[Hoopguru]

Like many teams in the NBA now days, they live and die by the three, (except if you have a Wemby, and even he shoots the 3 ball). I think Portland realizes they must shoot 38% plus not 28% to have a chance. Is there anyone off the bench thats quick enough to stay with Fox because Jrue and Scoot cant guard him. How about Wesley he's as quick as anyone on the team?

 

[kjironman1]

Like many teams in the NBA now days, they live and die by the three, (except if you have a Wemby, and even he shoots the 3 ball). I think Portland realizes they must shoot 38% plus not 28% to have a chance. Is there anyone off the bench thats quick enough to stay with Fox because Jrue and Scoot cant guard him. How about Wesley he's as quick as anyone on the team?

Or even 26%
36% has them with 4 more threes and that changes the entire game.

 

[riverman]

I personally don't think there is much to adjust other than Make Some Shots.

I think they might give Jrue a breather more often so he won't be gassed in the 4th...he was clearly slowed down at the end game

 

[wizenheimer]

Or even 26%
36% has them with 4 more threes and that changes the entire game.

yes, if the Blazers had just shot their season percentage from 3, they would have scored 9 more points and it would have been a different game. But you shouldn't just stop on one good outcome if you're changing reality. If the Blazers had converted their normal rate of three's but also had their normal rate of turnovers, they would have had 7 more turnovers and that would have very likely erased that +9 from three. Of course, they could have erased that turnover erasure if they would have played Clingan his normal minutes and NOT parked him out at the 3 point line and he would have grabbed 3-4 more offensive rebounds like he normally does

but that's the thing about imagining a different game. A different game does not guarantee a better outcome

what the Spurs have is a large platoon of quick wings & guards

Keldon Johnson	6-6
Julian Champagnie	6-7
Harrison Barnes	6-7
De'Aaron Fox	6-3
Carter Bryant	6-6
Dylan Harper	6-5
Stephon Castle	6-6
Devin Vassell	6-5

these guys are all quick enough with defensive rotations I have to question if Portland can find enough open looks from 3 to consistently hit their season mark. The Spurs were 3rd in the NBA in defense this season and now they are focused on the Blazers. To me it looked like a lot of Portland's three's last night were contested. It looked to me like the Spurs strategy is to play Deni straight with occasional doubles at the top of the key; count on Wemby and Kornet to protect the rim; and to focus on rotating to Portland's perimeter shooters. It worked. It's now on the Blazers to make adjustments and create a different game

 

[Phatguysrule]

Well. San Antonio is 500 square miles big, so it's not hard to have a large population.

Their population density is less than Portlands. If Portland was as big as San Antonio, they'd be 2.2 million, and if San Antonio was as small as Portland, they'd be about 415k.

I think that's why it's sometimes called "small market" despite the population.

Is the density important? Isn't the number of eyes the biggest factor?

 

[Phatguysrule]

probably, the Spurs will have to get by Denver first. That won't be easy for them. Wemby won't dominate Jokic

I just think OKC's strategy is (was?) more reliably duplicated than Denver's path of getting lucky enough to draft Jokic late.